The Gift: A Christmas Challenge Fic

Mistletoe



By: Snapes_Goddess













For LadyBlueEyes Christmas Challenge…….

















It would be a Christmas like no other, Lucius thought as he watched the crowd of people filling the ballroom. So much had changed in the years following the war. The magical community had been thinned, especially the purebloods. Laws were enacted protecting the muggle born and laws were created forcing the union of muggleborns and purebloods to ensure their protection. He was all too familiar with those laws as a widower since the ministry had felt he would be the person to make an example of by pairing him with the most famous witch in their world. Ironically he had tried to kill her, but Hermione Granger didn’t go down easy.







Their betrothal was big news in the wizarding world, as was their displeasure in it. They couldn’t do anything about their situation, there was no way around the law, and they had researched it thoroughly. They had to marry and consummate it within forty eight hours. That was the part he was dreading the most. She was just a child compared to him, too young to be wed to a man his age and quite frankly, he had been worried he wouldn’t be able to perform. While she was a nice enough young woman she was rather plain, hiding beneath baggy clothes, no makeup and ridiculously messy hair.







That changed the moment she opened the door to her ridiculously small flat. Somehow in the week since he had last seen her she had transformed. Her insanely curly hair was now pinned and tucked into place in an elaborate hairstyle that left silky chocolate brown curls dangling about her ears and throat. Her cosmetics were softly done, accenting her large caramel eyes and plump lips. She was wearing a red strapless gown with white fur trimming the bodice and the hem, white satin gloves covering her arms to just above the elbow.







He had been speechless upon seeing her. He still had trouble forming words when he looked at her. She was beautiful, the belle of the ball as she was led around the floor by Kinglsey Shacklebolt. The night would soon be over and he would escort her home, back to her miniscule little flat until their standing Saturday night engagement to go over wedding arrangements. A wedding that he dreaded a little bit less as he stared at her in her holiday finery.







He straightened his back and adjusted his robes, making his way through the crowd and onto the dance floor. He lightly tapped Kingsley on the shoulder and the Minister of Magic turned to him with a smile.





“Pardon me, Minister Shacklebolt, but may I cut in for the last dance with my fiancée?” Lucius asked. Kinsley smiled and stepped back, placing her hand in Lucius’s.







“You never dance with me.” She said quietly as Lucius pulled her close. The song Baby its Cold Outside began to play, a raspy voiced witch and a heavy baritone wizard singing a duet.







“Well now I do.” He said, slowly leading her in a modified box step. “You look lovely tonight.”







“Why are you so surprised? Did you think I was incapable of being attractive?” She asked.







“Is there any way for me to answer that without getting myself into trouble?” He turned her expertly on the floor and she couldn’t help but be impressed.







“Never mind, thank you for the compliment.” She said softly. “You look rather dashing yourself this evening.” He smiled in reply and pulled her a little closer, her full skirts brushing against his legs.







“Thank you.” He was somewhat surprised by the return compliment, women generally didn’t compliment him as he wore the same, traditional dress robes as the others. Though his were of the finest quality and cut and his cufflinks and studs were real diamonds not cut glass. They twirled on the dance floor and ended up in front of a large set of windows. Snow was falling heavily outside, blanketing everything in a pristine cover of white.







They were no longer dancing; not really, it was more of a slow swaying as they tuned out the rest of the crowd. Hermione, always one for making the best of things had decided she would make the effort to find some good in him. With Ginny’s help she had spent her week readying for this ball, for the chance to show him she could change, she could make the effort in hopes that he too would try. She succeeded in catching him off guard. He had stared at her all evening; she could feel his eyes on her. It was flattering and a bit disarming. She hadn’t expected to feel the stirrings of desire.







“Why are we stopping?” She asked as even the swaying halted and they simply stood there holding each other.







“Look up.” He said quietly.







“Mistletoe.” She whispered, her gaze dropping back to his.









“We wouldn’t want to flout tradition.” He said as he pulled her closer.







“No, that wouldn’t be good.” She muttered as she was pressed tight against him, her hands clutching his shoulder as her breathing became ragged. She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry as he lowered his head.





“I’m going to kiss you…” he whispered.







“I want you to kiss me…”she replied. Their lips met and the sparks ignited. Softly his lips moved over hers, shaping them, tasting them. He nipped her top lip, then her bottom, his tongue feathering over the slight sting before seeking entrance to her mouth. She reciprocated with a passion that stunned and excited him; he gathered her closer if that was even possible and deepened the kiss. She didn’t resist, she accepted and reveled in the incredible passion that was building between them and tunneled her fingers through his hair as she stretched up onto her toes.









“Ahem…..you two may want to take this somewhere private.” Lucius pulled away and turned his head. Kingsley was grinning at him and a large portion of the crowd as well. Lucius looked at Hermione but she hadn’t even turned her head, she was still staring up at him, her hand in his hair, her lips wet and swollen from his.







“I think you may have a point, Minister.” He said just before he apparated them away.







“It’s a good think the wedding is soon.” Kingsley chuckled as he turned back to the party. It was about damned time those two saw the truth.









Just a little drabble….very tame for me isn’t it? I’ll have to correct that by writing some more smut in another story…..